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Gabriel Lau Analyses Climate Change

Prof. Gabriel Lau
Director, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability (IEES)

What made you return to serve CUHK?

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I completed my bachelor's degree at CUHK, furthered my study in the US and lived there for 39 years. However, I still felt my roots are in Hong Kong and aspired to work here. There happened to be an opportunity in CUHK which fit my specialty and interest. I jumped at the offer.

What changes have you noticed on CUHK campus?

There's now more Colleges, Faculties, and students. The student mix is broader. The barren hilltops have been transformed to leafy terrain dotted with buildings. The natural shoreline has been altered due to land reclamation.

What's the focus of the IEES?

First is coordination. IEES serves as a platform for collaboration among different departments and units to conduct cross-disciplinary research on the environment, a topic which has much to do with everyone. Second is research. IEES continues the research on meteorology in regions such as East Asia. Third, education. If offers the Earth System Science programme to arouse the interest of students on the subject. Fourth, knowledge transfer. The CUHK Jockey Club Initiative Gaia at IEES promotes knowledge to the wider public through the establishment of the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, organization of a carbon reduction project and a series of conferences and exhibitions.

What's the importance of general science education and what's the technique of writing a good general science article?

The readership is limited if research results are only published in academic journals. Scientists are supported by society, hence they have the responsibility to contribute to the community. The publication of general science articles is one effective way in which they can do that. It takes me even more time to write this kind of article than professional ones, because I have to explain complicated concepts simply. I need to quote daily life examples and use graphics. I usually give the drafts to my friends who are unfamiliar with these subjects for their comments and then revise several times. I must ensure accuracy. I have written a few articles and received favourable feedback. Apart from being published in the bimonthly magazine Twenty-first Century, they have been reprinted in several publications on mainland China and Taiwan. Some information has been uploaded to the website of the Hong Kong Observatory.

You have conducted climate change research for many years. Have there been unforgettable experiences?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice-President Al Gore Jr., in 2007. Although I am only one of the thousands of scientists of the IPCC, I was thrilled and felt privileged to share the honour. This is a recognition for the research on climate change. Besides, in July 1989, the Hong Kong Meteorological Society organized its first cross-strait conference. The committees made every effort to enable the conference to materialize despite the unstable political atmosphere. Climate change is an issue beyond regional and political boundaries.

Can you sense the climate crisis in your daily life?

Even ordinary people will sense climate change in daily life. When I lived in the US, the tree leaves in my backyard usually fell in mid- or late-October. But now I find this happening in mid-December. This imperceptible change indicates summer is now longer.

What are some of the most urgent issues?

We anticipate that at the end of the 21st century, the average temperature of Earth will increase by 2 to 4°C. The heat waves will increase significantly in duration and frequency. This will threaten the lives of the elderly especially those with respiratory problems. The Arctic Ocean will become ice-free in 2050 and polar bears will lose their habitat. The waters of Earth are becoming more acidic as carbon dioxide released by humans into the atmosphere dissolves into ocean. This leads to the formation of carbon acid which has a negative impact on marine life. We may not live long enough to witness these changes, but our next generation will certainly suffer.

For those who don't think climate change is pressing or urgent, what would you tell them?

We all buy insurance to manage risk. The same applies to climate change. You may not be hit by a car next month, and yet you still buy autoinsurance. If years of scientific research indicate that the probability of something happening is 90% or 95%, wouldn't you also do something about it?

How can this situation be altered?

We can burn less coal and carbon, or turn to renewable energy. We have to promote conservation such as use of energy saving light bulbs. This can be done by education.